Clever Definition

klĕvər

cleverest, cleverer

adjective

cleverest, cleverer

Skillful in doing something; adroit; dexterous.

Webster's New World

Mentally quick and original; bright.

A clever student.

American Heritage

Quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, ingenious, quick-witted, witty, facile, etc.

Webster's New World

Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands.

A clever carpenter.

American Heritage

Showing ingenuity or quick, sometimes superficial, intelligence.

A clever book.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Clever

Base Form:

clever

Comparative:

cleverer

Superlative:

cleverest

From East Anglian dialectal English cliver (“expert at seizing”), from Middle English cliver (“tenacious”), perhaps from Old English *clifer, clibbor (“clinging”), or perhaps from East Frisian (compare Saterland Frisian kluftich), or dialectal Norwegian klover (“ready, skillful”); possibly influenced by Old English clifer (“claw, hand”). Related to cleave.

From Wiktionary
Middle English cliver East Frisian klifer, klüfer gleubh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition